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Leader (1850-1860), 29th January 1853, Edition Country of 2, Page 101, LORD DRUMLANRIG AND « W. B." An exchange...

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      Continental Notes. The French Senate And...

      notwithst & iiding the pressure fot money , have rejected the project , on the ground that they could not sell the patrimony of the Church . General Gemeau is preparing to leave , and the report is current that M . de Rayneval is also recalled . Other letters state that the Pope , who is Bonapartist in his leanings , has mad e up his mind to go to Paris in the B ? £ » * ° cfoWn the Emperor , in spite of the opposition of the cardinals , who are more Austrian in their sympathies . After a discussion which lasted four days , the Senate of Piedmont adopted on the 22 nd the bill for suppressing the slave trade ; and it now only remains to vote on the ensemble of the law . The bill ( says the Parlamento ) has

      long been a necessity . An edict issued b y Victor Emanuel , Jan . 17 , 1818 , forbade to Sardinian citizens all participation in the slave trade under pain of an exemplary punishment . A law made in 1827 forbade captains of vessels to carry slaves , unless to deliver them , and made offenders liable to fifteen years at the galleys , and a fine of 24 , 000 livres . These were the only laws on the subject when , in 1833 , France and England signed a convention for the suppression of the trade—a treaty to which our Government adhered in the following year . But after this there was still wanting a regular measure by which should be determined the nature and punishment of offences , and also the tribunals before which the latter should be tried .

      By the bill now before the Legislature the cognition of these causes will belong to the Courts of Appeal , arid no longer to the Admiralty . This arrangement is wise , because it re-establishes the judicial authority in its rights . It is proposed by the Sardinian Government to transfer the clu . ef naval station from Genoa to Speazia , where great docks will be * constructed by an English Company . The Piedmontese Government is perhaps apprehensive of the [ Republican element so strong at Genoa . Public attention is turned in Piedmont at present to the case of a person named Daniel Mazzinghi , who was condemned on the 18 th instant , by the Tribunal of Appeal of Genoa , to three years' exile on an accusation of

      Protestant propagandism . It appears that the principal charge against him was his reading Diodati ' s translation of the Bible in company with other persons . On the following day , M . Brofferio , the leader of the Lef t in the Piedmontese Chamber , announced his intention of addressing a question on the subject to the President of the Council , and the 25 th instant was fixed for the purpose . We now see in the Parlamento of the 23 rd , that the Government intends to grant Dr . Mazzinghi a full pardon , on the ground that the condemnation is in accordance with old laws still in existence on matters of religion , and which are confessedly not in accordance with the present state of things ; the Chamber having , on two occasions since 1848 , declared its intention of revising them .

      On the 23 rd , at Vienna , there was a » heavy fall of snow— - the first this winter . The new scheme of government for Hungary has been decreed from Vienna . The pith of the new organization may be summed up in a few words . Hungary is henceforth to be governed bureaucratically , and therefore absolutely ; and the newly elaborated organization which has been decided upon by the Emperor takes every particle of power away from the native populations , and gives it to the Monarch , or his Vice-Regent , the Archduke Albert , Governor of Hungary . The Austrian Government is engaged in negotiations for a concordat with the Holy See . The Russian Minister of Finance is about to re introduce his plan for taxing railways : the amount to be levied oh the not profits af ter doducting all expenses , interest , and contribution to the reserved fund .

      It is positively stated that the Russian Government is preparing an expedition to Japan to watch tho Yankees , while the ostensible object is scientific . It will bo more important ^ to us to watch tho Russians on these Eastern soas . Tho Montonegrine insurrection is likely to load to serious complications . The intrigues and jealousies of Austria and Russia are involved in tho struggfo . Tho difficult and inaccessible naturo of tho country makes all reports of the progress ^ of tho war extremely uncertain and unreliable ^ It is certain that Turkey is making very expensive and apparontly disproportionate preparations to subduo the inountainecr . s . Wo subjoin somo of the latest reports from the seat of war , as given in telegraphic news from Trieste .

      A telegraphic despatch from Trieste , dated January 21 , announced that , on the 15 th , Omar Pacha took tho fortress of Grahovo by storm ; but that in an attempt to take the capital of Montenegro in tho mountains , ho was repulsed . . Ho purposed renewing tho attack on tho 17 th . Tho rumour that tho Ban Jellaehidh had crossed tho Turkish frontier , near Caltaid , with a largo forco , is not confirmed . Meanwhile , a cousin of Prince Daniel , of Montenegro , is off to Vienna and St . Petersburg to solicit aid in favour of tho Montencgrinnn .

      Advices from Cattaroof tho 10 th state that on the 10 th a British frigate was won anchored off tho Bojand ; that tho captain wont on Hhore and had a long interview with the Pacha of Scutari , when he returned on board and Met nail for Corfu . Montonogro in to bo surrounded by an army of thirty thousand Turks , who are to attack it tuinultaneouHly on all points . Tho communes of Horzgowiuo Which had rebelled against the Porto have made- their submieHion again ; the Grahoviann nlono hold out yet , but an the Montenegrins cannot come to thoir aid , ifc in expected they will soon submit .

      Abd-el-Ka < lor has arrived at Constantinople on board tho French stoam frigate Labrador . Ho was to have been received by tho Sull ~ . au on the 10 th innt .

      M Jaftfrlft* 29, 1853.] !The Leabm. Lol

      m JAftfrLft * 29 , 1853 . ] ! THE LEABM . lOl

      Wo Gave Circulation A Few Days Since To ...

      Wo gave circulation a few days since to a rumour very prevalent in Paris , that tho Due do Batmano had boon largely engaged in certain speculations of a hazardous character . Wo have authority for otating that thoro is no truth whatever in tho report , tho Duko being ono of tho

      few who in the present inania for speculation in France has abstained entirely from any undertakings which partake of that character . —Times .

      Disastrous News From Burmah. The Followi...

      DISASTROUS NEWS FROM BURMAH . The following telegraphic despatch was received in town yesterday : — - " Trieste , Jan . 27 , 1 a . m . " The steamer Germania has arrived , " General Godwin having imprudently stationed an advanced post of only 400 men at Pegu , 60 miles from Rangoon , and within a short distance of the main body of the Burmese army , the Burmese commander immediately attacked it , cut off its communications w ^ ith Rangoon , seized an ammunition convoy , invested the place , harassing the little garrison day and night , and cut off the approaches from Rangoon . "A naval force , 150 marines , 300 European soldiers , and a steamer , attempted to force the passage ^ tojislieve Pegu , and were driven back with loss . " Two columns of 2 , 400 men left Rangoon , encountered the Burmese , defeated them with great loss , and succeeded in reaching Pegu . "

      Lord Drumlanrig And « W. B." An Exchange...

      LORD DRUMLANRIG AND « W . B . " An exchange of hostile letters has taken place between Major William Beresford and Lord Drumlanrig , arising out of expressions used , by the latter at the late Dumfriesshire election . Major Beresford opened the correspondence , on the 15 th instant , by charging Lord Drumlanrig with making " a personal and an unfounded attack on me , in language most uncourteous , and at a moment most inappropriate . " Lord Drumlanrig , he continues , was bound to have ascertained " whether , either now or for some time past , I have had any hand in conducting the election business of the party to which I belong / ' before he insinuated or asserted such an " unfounded calumny . "

      " Except for three days , during the absence of Mr . Forbes Mackenzie and Colonel Forester from London , in July last , I have not interfered in such election matters since I accepted the office of Secretary at War , in February last . Such , fact was proved in evidence before the Derby committee , and therefore you were bound to have known it . " And he calls on Lord Drumlanrig to state why he coupled the name of Major Beresford with the intended opposition to his lordship .

      Lord Drumlanrig replied on the 16 th . He did not know what expressions Major Beresford specifically alluded to ; but if he meant the speech delivered at Dumfries on the 5 th instant , Lord Drumlanrig felt " bound to apologize for having said ' the Carlton Club was a place where Tory elections were managed under Major Beresford . ' I ought to have said the Carlton Club was a place where Tory elections used to be managed by Major Beresford . I had overlooked the fact that , except for three days in July last , when Mr . Mackenzie and Colonel Forester were absent from London , you had not interfered in election matters since you accepted office In February last . I offer every apology for this inadvertence . " But should this explanation not apply to tho remarks challenged by Major Beresford , Lord Drumlanrig held himself ready to cxpleiu further .

      " In tho meantime , allow mo to say , that having been purposely most cautious , I never insinuated that either you or any other particular individual was concerned with any meditated opposition to my ro-election in Dumfriesshire . I confined myself to two pimplo statements—to two romarkablo but mysterious facts . Tho first was , that I heard of this opposition to my re-election in tho Carlton Club three days before any one had heard of it in this county . The second statement wbh , that I know a member of tho club had made Hoveral communications into Dumfriesshire for a good and safe Dcrbyite to oppose me . These facts I stated openly and frequently , and 1 entreated my constituents to ponder them over , and to reflect whether it ; was not just possible that their independence mig ht bo in danger of being compromised in a very different .

      manner from what others were anxious to make them , which was the case . I never mentioned or thought of your name in connexion with my immediate re-election for Dumfriesshire , but in explaining to the uninitiated what tho meaning of interference by tfie Carlton Club was in its general sense , I certainly did on more occasions than ono make uso of your name ; and , by your own admission , it appear *) I was only incorrect in my dates . " 1 again tender ovory apology for this inadvertence ; but , after all , in speaking of mattcra of history , one generally is understood to speak of tho past ; still I am bound to say I ought to have said ' used to be managed . ' 1 distinctly deny that I over coupled your name with any meditated opposition to me in Dumfriesshire . I had no right whatever to do so , and 1 did not do it . "

      Mi \ jor Boresford , writing on the 18 th , was " bound to accept tho apology" for inadvertence . "At tho samo time , I must beg to point out to your lordship , that if I huve no hand in managing ouch election matters ; it in a most unintelligible line of argument , when you are speaking of an opposition to your re-elootion , to drag in my name apropos do bottes ; and , unless I am in some way concerned in thai opposition , I consider it aIho an impertinent uot . "

      Lord Drumlanrig complained , on the 20 th , that the expresltons complaitied of were not pointed out ; if they were , he would have no objection either to explain or retract them . " In the meanwhile , I cannot allow you to conclude this correspondence , and to use the words ' impertinent act , ' without saying that I am quite prepared either to explain or to answer for any act which you may consider impertinent . " Major Beresford replied on the 22 nd . After recounting the steps of the correspondence , he says , —

      " I am glad to see by your letter just received that you repeat your willingness to retract or explain any expressions that I have a right to complain of , and that you will be prepared to answer for any act which I may consider impertinent . I am quite willing to give your lordship credit for the sincerity of your first declaration , and I hope that you will not de ; em me intentionally wanting in courtesy if I say that it seems that from some peculiarity you are not always aware when you are using offensive terms towards individuals who are totally unconnected with the matter on which you are speaking . " I rejoice to be assured of the straightforward readiness which you avow in your second declaration of offering satisfaction in case you should be betrayed by chance into the use of offensive expressions .

      " I sincerely hope that this correspondence may now be closed , and that I may not be called upon to renew it by a fresh aggression such as I have distinctly , I trust , pointed out . " What further steps may have been taken , does not appear .

      The University Election. The Following C...

      THE UNIVERSITY ELECTION . The following circular , which requires no comment , is in circulation at Oxford : — " Elections foe the Univeesities . " It is to be hoped that the authorities of both Universities will speedily take steps to effect a change in the present mode of electing burgesses . Certainly we in Oxford have been taught by our contests in 1847 , 1852 , and 1853 , what inconvenience the existing law entails upon us . " The following changes , or something like them , would surely be desirable : — " 1 . The polling should be limited to four days , or even to two , power being given to have as many polling-places a ^ may seem necessary . Both in 1847 and in 1852 , the election was virtually decided in two days , and that with only one place for receiving votes . " 2 . The Vice-Chancellor should not be bound , as now , to fix the beginning of the election within eight days from the receipt of the writ . " 3 . There should be a day for the nomination of candidates , and then an interval of somo days before the polling , so that the electors throughout England may know for whom they have to vote ; and these two intervals , before and after the nomination , should be so arranged that the Vice-Chancellor might always be able to take the middle days in a week for the voting , and also , in the caso of a general election , to avoid the days of polling for English counties . " These three changes alone would be a great benefit , and would be in close accordance with modes of election now used in England . But

      " 4 . Why should not members of the Universities be enabled to give their votes in writing , without the trouble of a journey ? Their signatures , in a set form , staling name , college , and degree , attested , perhaps , by a magistrate or somo credible witness , might be publicly read before the Vice-Chancellor , and recorded , as now , in the poll-book , tho papers themselves also being filed . And if each polling-paper were made to bear a 5 s . atamp , tho Exchequer would gain some hundreds of pounds at every contest , while the voters themselves would he saved a vast amount of expense and trouble . JWany more votes would then bo given , and tho sense of the electors would be moro fully and fairly expressed . " Ono who has been a " 'Wkitkk of thj" Poj . r ,. '" "Oxford , January 21 , 1 HG . V

      National Dkfkncks. A Memhejt Of Tho Metr...

      NATIONAL DKFKNCKS . A MEMHEJt of tho Metropolitan Rifle Club , replying to a correspondent of the Daily News , -states " thttt the club is still in active existence , but that , unfortunately , its growth and activity in co-operation with other clubs was greatly—indeed , almost totally—checked by tho refusal of the Derby Government to sanction its formation into a rifle corps . It . is true that under the name Government wo obtained permission to practice , as a club , on tho Woolwich Artillery Practice-grounds * but this indirect encouragement was uot enough to counteract the chilling ellect of a prior refusal .

      " The amount of assistance refused by the Derby Government , in the beginning of last year may be entimafed by tho fact i . liat in a single fortnight t * ixlecu embryo country clubs voluntarily put LIiciiihcIvch in eonmiuniciition with us . Our own uuinluirH wore rapidly approaching u thousand , which was to have been tho limit of the Metropolitan Club . Of coui ' bo all , or most of tho minor clubs , have died out trinco then , and our own number of active inemberH has sudly fallun away . I saw enough , however , of the Njririt which woh manifested in the beginning of 1851 , to feel eortnin that a word of ( Jovennneut , uncounigoment would cull into existence tens of thousand ** of volunteer rWlemen from all puita of tho country , ready for nutiouul dofe-nce . "'

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 29, 1853, page 101, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_29011853/page/5/